Inside the Headset with the AFCA

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Brent Vigen, head coach at Montana State University.

Coach Vigen shares his journey from graduate assistant to national championship head coach and reflects on the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy. He discusses learning under Craig Bohl, developing players at a high level — including his experience coaching Josh Allen and what it takes to build and sustain a championship culture.

In this conversation, Coach Vigen breaks down:

• Earning credibility as a young coach

• Leading fellow staff members early in his career

• Building and maintaining standards within a program

• Motivating players after winning a national title

• The importance of serving the coaching profession through the AFCA Board of Trustees

This episode is packed with practical insight for coaches at every level who are focused on leadership development, culture building, and long-term program success.

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On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Keith Clark, Offensive Line Coach at Dartmouth and the 2025 AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.

Coach Clark shares his unconventional coaching journey, including his early experience coaching football in Italy, the lessons he learned as a young head coach overseas, and how those experiences shaped his teaching philosophy. He discusses returning to his alma mater, earning an opportunity at the University of Maine, navigating his first full-time role in college football, and building credibility within a staff.

Clark also reflects on his time in the Ivy League, what it takes to win in that environment, and what being named AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year means to him. The conversation highlights risk-taking, humility, professional growth, and the importance of staying connected within the coaching profession.

New episodes of Inside the Headset drop weekly. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review to help other coaches find the show.

On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Matt Walker, head football coach at University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Coach Walker reflects on his journey through the profession, including his early years as both a head baseball and football coach, the lessons learned from navigating tough seasons, and the mindset shifts that helped him build a national championship program at the Division III level.

Follow Coach Walker and UW–River Falls Football: @CoachWalkerRF | @UWRFFootball

Subscribe, rate, and review Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform to help more coaches discover the show. 🔗 https://linktr.ee/insidetheheadset

00:00 Intro 01:09 Getting into the profession 01:33 When did you want to be a part of this great profession? 05:14 Breaking away from the family career path 06:44 Taking over as interim head coach 09:23 Maturing quickly to handle the workload 12:26 Life as an offensive assistant (2000–2005) 14:44 Leading both baseball and football programs 18:28 Lessons learned coaching multiple sports 21:25 Learning to step back after leading 23:46 Building a sharper plan at River Falls 25:31 Putting your own flavor on a program 29:13 Learning from gambles that didn't work 32:49 Why UW–River Falls was the right fit 35:25 Importance of administrative support 37:58 Lessons from a 0–10 season 40:11 Championships and hardship 41:10 Mindset shifts as a head coach 46:23 Transitioning to tempo 49:04 Team communication and internal leadership 51:24 Creating a program opponents feel 53:13 Reflecting on the journey 59:43 Closing

On this episode of Inside the Headset Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Lou Marinelli, Head Coach at New Canaan High School. Coach Marinelli shares reflections from his long and successful coaching career, including how he built a winning program, developed players, and stayed true to the values that define great leadership.

This conversation dives into program culture, consistency, and the lessons learned from decades on the sidelines. It's a powerful look at what it takes to sustain success and positively impact young athletes through football.

Follow Coach Marinelli and New Canaan Football:

@NewCanaanFB

Be sure to follow Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more conversations with coaches from across the country. New episodes drop every week. Find us here: https://linktr.ee/insidetheheadset

On this episode of Inside the Headset, presented by CoachComm, we sit down with Benedictine Head Coach Joel Osborn, the 2025 AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year. Coach Osborn shares his journey from Northwest Missouri State to leading one of the top programs in the NAIA, the value of coaching multiple positions, and how that experience shaped him as a play caller and leader. He also discusses building a championship culture at Benedictine, hiring a trusted staff, and what it means to be recognized by his peers with one of the highest honors in the profession.

On this episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we're joined by Clint Killough, Head Coach at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW). This conversation was recorded prior to the start of the season.

Coach Killough reflects on his journey through football, how the game shaped his relationships, and the experiences that guided his coaching career. He also discusses what it means to be in charge of an FCS program, the responsibility that comes with leading young men, and the importance of culture, trust, and personal growth within a team.

Topics include:

• How football influenced Coach Killough's life and relationships

• Lessons learned throughout his coaching journey

• Growth through different coaching roles

• Leadership and responsibility as a head coach

• Becoming the head coach at UIW

🎧 Inside the Headset features weekly conversations with coaches from across the football profession, focusing on leadership, culture, and the journey behind the headset.

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Step inside the innovation that's changing the look and performance of football fields across the country. Shaw Sports Turf's Game On technology is redefining how programs design, install, and customize their synthetic turf. From Kansas' viral wheat-themed end zones to Denver's skyline lacrosse field, schools at every level are turning to Game On for its seamless construction, faster installation, and expanded creative capabilities.

With lines, numbers, logos, and field markings built directly into the turf at the factory, Game On eliminates hundreds of cuts, reducing failure points and enhancing player safety. In this video, you'll hear how the technology works, why coaches and administrators love it, and how Game On is reshaping the future of athletic surfaces.

📍 See Shaw Sports Turf at the 2026 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, Booth #1007 📅 January 11–13, 2026

On this week's episode of Inside the Headset — Presented by CoachComm, we bring you Army Head Coach Jeff Monken's powerful presentation from the 2025 AFCA Convention. Coach Monken dives into his early passion for football, his leadership philosophy, and why building meaningful relationships is at the core of his coaching approach.

📌 In this talk, you'll learn about: – The moments that shaped Coach Monken's coaching journey – His belief in disciplined, purpose-driven leadership – How relationships influence culture, performance, and longevity – Core principles he uses to guide the Army Football program

📣 Follow Coach Monken & Army Football: @CoachJeffMonken | @ArmyWP_Football

🎧 Listen to Inside the Headset: Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and follow us here for weekly conversations with coaches across all levels of football. If you enjoyed this episode, please like the video and drop a review—it helps more coaches and fans discover the show. 🔗 https://linktr.ee/insidetheheadset

This week on Inside the Headset, presented by CoachComm, we are featuring Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti's presentation from the 2025 AFCA Convention

In this conversation, Coach Cignetti reflects on his coaching journey and the intentional steps he's taken to build winning programs. He explains the foundation of Indiana's cultural transformation, emphasizing the importance of setting high standards, maintaining clear expectations, and enforcing strong accountability at every level.

A must-listen for coaches looking to strengthen culture, leadership, and program development.

Follow Indiana Football: CCignettiIU & @IndianaFootball